1912] AY DIRBICULT) RETURN oH i 
sea ice was infinitely more disturbing than the question of their 
wintering there. 
As one instance of the loyal way in which I was supported 
during the whole of this season, I can quote the following: 
‘Wright, from the very first, had been entirely against this jour- 
ney. He had some knowledge of a previous sledge trip on the 
western coast. Not until after I had told him that we should have 
to turn back, did he tell me how thankful he was at the decision. 
He had come on this trip fully believing that there was every 
probability of the party being lost, but had never demurred and 
never offered a contrary opinion, and one cannot be thankful 
enough to such men.’ 
We depoted two weeks’ provisions at Butter Point and started 
to make our way back to Hut Point, our only anxiety being lest 
the new sea ice had blown out in the blizzard which had delayed 
us at Butter Point. That night we camped near the northern 
end of the Eskers and awaited the morning with some anxiety. 
To our joy we found that the 4 miles of new ice was still in in 
part. Again with a favouring wind we set sail and ran before 
it for 2 miles. The wind again fell light, and to our consterna- 
tion we saw the Emperor penguins walking solemnly toward 
the edge of the old sea ice which probably meant that there was 
open water between us and it. But eventually we reached safety 
and camped for a meal, then in a bad light completed 6 more 
miles. 
Next morning, the 22nd, a blizzard caused a late start. We 
made for the end of the pinnacled ice, hoping to find our ice still 
in. As we approached, dense volumes of frost-smoke were seen 
arising from where it had been. This was serious, as it probably 
meant we should have to make our way through the pinnacled ice, 
an undertaking which meant several more days in the bad light 
and bad going. Luckily for the party, there was a narrow ledge 
or ice-foot projecting from the edge of the pinnacled ice. Al- 
ternately along this and along the edge of the pinnacled ice we 
made our way, stumbling and falling in the holes and capsizing 
the sledge. After 7 miles we made our way through, and al- 
though we could not then see our whereabouts, we knew the 
remainder of the journey would be pretty plain sailing. 
On April 23 there was a blizzard in the morning, a very 
strong wind and low temperature. There were no land marks 
